Dealing With Trolls

1. 73

   Inspirepubposted 16 years ago

   A couple of threads have been inflamed recently by people who have joined Hubpages, posted no Hubs, and simply weighed into pre-existing discussions with somewhat inappropriate or confrontational material. This type of behavior - coming into a community, not to participate but to fight, is classical "troll".
   
   I wonder whether it would work if we all chose to completely ignore argumentative posts from people who have no published Hubs?
   
   Obviously "please help me I can't get my Hub to save" and "hello, glad to be here" posts aren't argumentative, so new people can still interact positively as normal.
   
   But if we deprive the trolls of the attention and drama they crave, hopefully they will get bored and go away.
   
   What do you think? Viable?
   
   Jenny

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2. 63

   Mishaposted 16 years ago

   Sorry, Jenny, I think it's idealistic.
   
   You never get *everybody* to agree, no matter how hard you try...
   
   I personally am going to scale back on my involvement with such threads, cause I feel I waste my time on these guys and gals...

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3. 73

   relacheposted 16 years ago

   It's more efficient to just report the really bad spam and troll posts, and not reply to them, because then HubPages admin can delete the really bad stuff, instead of all these threads where the original message is gone and all that's left is a strange dislocated message griping about the missing post.

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   1. STAFF

      pauldeedsposted 16 years agoin reply to this

      This is an excellent point.  We generally take action on reported posts within an hour or two (except in the overnight hours California time).   So unless you think the offender is just a newbie that has some hope of redemption, please just report the post and don't bother replying.

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4. 0

   Hovalisposted 16 years ago

   Don't feed the Trolls is the classic refrain. It sounds great in theory, but in practise it usually doesn't work all that well. Especially if the trolls are clever about it. You know, just standing on the edge of what is acceptable hoping someone will take up the bait. There are also those well-intentioned people who join up because something has ticked them off, and are weighing into a debate without knowing the people involved. It's that bull in a china shop mentality.
   
   All I think hubbers can do is use their common sense, and not weigh in. That does take restraint, though.

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   1. 69

      Peter M. Lopezposted 16 years agoin reply to this

      Indeed.  Treat them like strays, and hope they move on. 
      
      Don't they know that family infighting is supposed to stay within the family?

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5. 0

   terrygposted 16 years ago

   Its just like watching t.v. turn the channel.
   
   Why would you bother answering such a post. There's plenty of other well worthwhile topics in the forum.

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6. 60

   Betty Jo Pettyposted 16 years ago

   I'm not familiar with a lot that goes on in threads, although I did see a little on the site with an H.com
   
   I was really shocked that people actually come into a site just to ignite. (flame?)
   
   
   
   Like treating a temper tantrum in my little grandsons;  ignore or laugh at it!
   
   Ignore would be best here.
   
   Thanks for helping.  bjp

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7. 60

   ohohdonposted 16 years ago

   The trolls are everywhere - online and offline.  They come in to get a reaction.  If you give them that reaction, it feeds them and the continue.  They're like cockroaches, hanging out wherever there is food.  Cut off their nourishment and they will go away.  Or maybe, somewhere along the way, they'll get stepped on.

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8. 58

   spudsposted 16 years ago

   Trolls are a pain in the neck. Just ignore them. They will eventually move on.

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9. 80

   VioletSunposted 16 years ago

   I like Terryg's suggestion to just turn the channel. What we feed expands. I have posted for decades online,  and have seen my fair share of trolls and also the occasional long time members in  various online communities be less than kind to new members, so its not always a new member causing problems.  Its interesting at times to watch different personalities interacting in an online community.

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10. 72

    Kenny Wordsmithposted 16 years ago

    It's like real life. Deal with them how we would in real life. I have started to think of hubpages as a village where I live or something like that.

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